13 Comments

Yes, but after two or three dribbles, the weak side needs to make cuts to either distract the defense or open an alternative. We're not there yet, and our ISOs have been relatively ineffective.

Expand full comment

Of course I'm happy for the Bears winning on the road, and a conference game. They finally closed out a close game. BUT, our half-court offense is hapless, we don't pass the ball out of double-teams, stand around when players begin one-on-on moves. We also make terrible turn-overs, and struggle against inbounding against a press. Fortunately Jaylon Tyson rescued us. But we need better team play from others. Hopefully we are improving.

Expand full comment

I think some of that standing around is by design for iso plays to Tyson. You send the wings to the deep corner so that the D has to stay near them....which opens up the center for Tyson to wiggle through.

Expand full comment

I've said before, but if you watch the body language and expressions of teams, you can learn a lot about their team culture and chemistry. When I do this with Cal, watching the baby bruins just as closely, it sure seems to me that our team is truly positive and together. It's not that all teams don't do the normal motions, it's more subtle. When the coach is speaking, are they truly listening? Watch the bruin players do their best to ignore Cronin. I really appreciate the energy of this Cal team, the bench energy, the all for one and one for all vibe. That's coaching. Go Bears and Go Mad Dog!

Expand full comment

Agree. Coach “MadDog” (who earned his nick name for the non stop energy he brought to every game when he was a player, not for throwing tantrums or clothing on the sidelines (ala Cronin), will continue to build this team in all the right ways . A great hire by our AD

Expand full comment

So happy for the team, they've played well enough to be at or near .500 on the season. I don't believe in the "they need to learn how to win close games" paradigm. Instead, they need to learn to play smothering defense to go along with the much improved offense to win games, close and otherwise. This was a welcome step up for their wire-to-wire defensive intensity.

Expand full comment

and also not commit a ridiculous number of turnovers every game

Expand full comment

that was cool; Cal looked pretty composed throughout.

Expand full comment
Jan 7Liked by Avinash Kunnath, Piotr Le

The Pauley Pavilion staff made Gerald (President of the Cal Alumni Association of LA) sit down. They are afraid of his power.

After the game, the UCLA radio folks really kit into their team “soft” “should never lose to Cal and Stanford” and blamed every player and Mick.

Expand full comment

Great win! This rebuild is for real!!

Expand full comment

Go Bears! Pauley was pretty full and the Bruin fans were disheartened. I know the feeling!

Expand full comment

For sure, they are going to start to play Better from this point on. They had a tough non-conference schedule which will prepare them for what they will see during league play. By the end of the season, no one will want to play the Golden Bears!

Expand full comment

These sorts of wins definitely reinforce the idea that we are on the right side of a rebuilding trajectory. Go bears!

Expand full comment